EAST RUTHERFORD — There have been times thus far during New York Giants training camp when the defense has made the offense look really bad.

Defensive coordinator James Bettcher's penchant for sending blitzes and causing disruption up front with stunts and games has served as quite the headache for the Giants' offensive line. Everyone on that side of the ball has been challenged, and as quarterback Davis Webb joked last week, going to school on Bettcher's tendencies has almost become a prerequisite for surviving some of these practices.

So, in his news conference Monday, I asked Bettcher if he believed in going full speed, pedal to the metal all the time during training camp.

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New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13)and quarterback Eli Manning (10) walk off the field together after NFL training camp in East Rutherford, NJ on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) and offensive coordinator Mike Shula, right, on the field during NFL training camp in East Rutherford, NJ on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, left, hands the ball off to runningback Saquon Barkley, right, during NFL training camp in East Rutherford, NJ on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Giants quarterback Davis Webb (5) hands the ball off to runningback Jalen Simmons during NFL training camp in East Rutherford, NJ on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) completes a catch with pressure from New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple (24) during NFL training camp in East Rutherford, NJ on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) and New wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) walk off the field together after NFL training camp in East Rutherford, NJ on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

"In terms of keeping our foot on the gas, absolutely. We are full speed ahead in terms of the process, both installation, how will we do what we do more importantly than what the scheme is, how we work on a daily basis, how our meetings are, what the expectation is, jogging on and off the field, getting in and out of the huddle, breaking the huddle — all these little things, because the little things are the big things," Bettcher said. "That’s one thing that I really love about this group, is that they’re building an identity and it’s not like it’s an identity of next year’s team or last year’s team or any other team, they’re building their identity as of right now, and that is taking care of the details, being assignment-sound, having their eyes in the right place, communicating well pre-snap and post-snap, and I really like that about this group and the direction in regards to that stuff that we’re doing."

Bettcher's energetic personality has been effusive in practice, and players seem to be responding to his presence — and his philosophy.

Asked what he was seeking compared to what he got in Bettcher when searching for a defensive coordinator, Giants coach Pat Shurmur said: "I was looking for the best teacher. Again, you’ve heard me say this, it’s the players, not the plays. That includes the schemes. I think there are advantages to the way we’re gonna line up and play. I basically told [Bettcher], 'Keep them out of the end zone.'"

New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur talks to the media before NFL training camp in East Rutherford, NJ on Wednesday, August 1, 2018.(Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com)

The Giants hit the practice field Tuesday morning at 10:45 for their last home public practice of training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. They'll spend next week training with and practicing against the Detroit Lions in Allen Park, Mich. prior to their second preseason game against coach Matt Patricia and the Lions.

Here are four more takeaways from the Giants' unofficial depth chart, which the team released Monday in advance of Thursday's preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium:

A new look for the Giants

It's been pretty clear that Shurmur would be using two-tight end sets far more frequently than his fired predecessor, Ben McAdoo, and that notion was essentially cemented on the initial depth chart. Gone is the base three-wide formation replaced by two receivers and two tight ends (Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram and Rhett Ellison. Saquon Barkley is listed as the starter at running back as well.

Been saying it all camp, but watch for Russell Shepard as he steadily makes his move to join Beckham, Sterling Shepard and Cody Latimer at wide receiver on the 53. That could leave one spot for the competition between Hunter Sharp and Kalif Raymond — both of whom are competing for the return jobs — and Roger Lewis Jr., who has his work cut out for him to prove value on special teams in the preseason.

Sharp is listed as the punt returner and Latimer as the kick returner. Raymond's strong camp should keep him in contention for both spots.

Rookie impact

Barkley, left guard Will Hernandez and defensive lineman B.J. Hill are all listed with the first team as expected. OLB Lorenzo Carter is on second team. That's pretty impressive if the Class of 2018 delivers the way the Giants are counting.

Bettcher went out of his way to praise Carter's performance in recent practices.

New York Giants defensive linemen B.J. Hill (95), Damon Harrison (98) and Dalvin Tomlinson (not pictured) have the makings of a strong front as Big Blue switches to a base 3-4 scheme on defense.(Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com)

Life of (Curtis) Riley

Curtis Riley missed a week of action with a hamstring injury before returning to practice Monday, but he's listed as the starter next to Pro Bowl safety Landon Collins in one of the more competitive battles. Riley, Darian Thompson, Mike Thomas and Andrew Adams are all in the mix.

Thompson has been quietly having a good camp, while Thomas also factors in the competition at nickel corner. Adams could end up being the top choice to fill in for Collins beyond challenging for the starting spot next to him.

Center of attention

Jon Halapio gets the nod over Brett Jones at center, and it's been that way since late in the offseason program. He brings more size and a bit more physicality to the position. A big key for Halapio will be communication, especially since that was always the quality for Jones that drew the most praise from the previous regime.

Jones has gotten some reps with the first team in recent practices, so it's not like the Giants don't know what he can do in that spot. But they keep going back to Halapio, whose reps with Eli Manning and Co. have been significant. Halapio has had a few high snaps in shotgun that Manning has saved without incident over the past few days. But he is still relatively inexperienced at that position, so it's something to keep an eye on.